Surgical splint.



J. R. FRENCH.

SURGICAL SPL|NT.-

APPLICATION FILED 00120, 1911.

- 1,295,297. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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SURGICAL SPLINT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1911.

1,295,297. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

000000000 ooooooo JOHN'ROLLIN FRENCH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SURGICAL SPLINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Febr25, 19-19.

Application filed October 20, 1917. Serial No. 197,701.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RoLLrN FRENCH, M. D., a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the .county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Surgical Splints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to splints such as are used in thesetting of broken bones, rectification of anatomical parts, etc., relating, in fact, to devices used in any situation for the support or binding or holding of parts of a body. And it is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement and a system whereby, with a relatively simple set of parts, a surgeon may readily andquickly set up and organize any special splint which he may require for any particular use. This applies not only to the making ofsplints for ordinary and usual purposes, but to the making and setting up of splints for special purposes.

I accomplish this object by the provision of a system and combination of parts which are adjustable or changeable in every particular, and which may be so assembled as to make any combination and any form of splint desired. For instance, I build my splints essentially of a frame work and of body engaging and supporting parts. The framework of each splint may be assembled in any desired relation; and the individual frame parts are adjustable or changeable as regards length, size, and angle of position. Thus, as regards the frame, it can be built in any desired manner, to suit any particular situation, to perform any desired service, and .to conform to the dimensions .of the body parts to which it is to be applied. Furthermore, the body engaging parts are remova'bly and adjustably mounted upon the frame parts, and are conformable to the body and thus they may be so placed, and may be so shaped and sized, as to fit the body accurately.

' A full understanding ofmyinvention may be had from the following detailed description of typical specific preferred forms of splints embodying my invention; reference being had for this purpose to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the frame work of a leg splint; Fig. 2 is a planthereof; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the supporting fabric in place upon the frame work; Fig. 4: is a side elevation and Fig. 5 is a plan of a typical form of splint used in cases of compound fracture; Figs. 6 and 7 are views of a triangular splint used typically forthe arm; Figs. 8 and 9 are views of another form of arm splint; Fig. 10 is a section showing a preferred construction of pivotal joint for the frame; Fig. 11 is a section showing a preferred construction of splice joint for the frame, Fig. 12 is asection showing a preferred construction of angle joint for the frame; Fig. 13 is a perspective showing a typical form of airplane splint; and Fig. 14: is a perspective showin its use.

The elements of my evice include bar members 10 which are made in standard size and perforated with spaced holes 11;. and in a complete set of my devices I furnish a suitable number of the bars 10 of various lengths. A suitable number of connection or joint members and a suitable supply of the body engaging members, together with these various lengths of frame bars, form a complete outfit with which any person skilled in the art may make .up any kind and any size device he may wishfor support of broken part or mobilizing of any part of the body. The joint members may be of the pivotal .variety as shown at 12 andillustrated particularly in Fig. 10; ofthe straight variety, as illustrated at 13 and shown in Fig. 11; or of the angular variety, as. shown at 14c and illustrated in Fig. 12. The pivotal joint comprises two members 15 and 16 pivoted together at 17 on a bolt preferably provided with a thumb-nut for binding and holding the two members in any set PQSI'. tion; and the members 15 and 16 are each provided to receive and hold the end of a bar memberlO, small bolts .18 bei provided to pass through-one of the 'ho es 11 of the bar member to hold the bar member to the ointmember. may comprise simply a joint member -20 The straight lj oint 13 provided with bolts 18 to pass through the apertures of barmember 10 and hold it in place. The angularjoint 14 may comprise aniangle member 21, provided with bar holding bolts 18. These angle members may be provided in other'than right angles. The bars lOma-y be as herein'beforestated,provided in suitable varieties ,of length, or may be provided in long lengths and cut to length as needed. The spaced holes 11 always provide means for making connections at the ends of a bar length; and these spaced holes also provide means for mounting the body engaging parts upon the frame.

The body engaging parts may be in any suitable material. For instance, I may use them of sheet metal, as shown at 25, or of flat wooden strips as shown at 26 or of fabric, as shown at 27. But for standard use, which will satisfy almost all situations, I use the sheet metal form 25, being a form made of pliable sheet metal, provided with spaced perforations 28-. Such perforated sheet'metal may be provided either in a variety of sizes and shapes, or it may be provided in large sheets or rolls to be cut by the user to any size and shape desired. Furthermore, this sheet metal is of such pliability that it may be bent'to any suitable form or curvature, after having been mounted in any desired position upon the frame work; and it is stiff enough that it will retain its bent form. It is mounted upon the frame work by the use of bolts or screws, or any equivalent means, as indicated at 30, these bolts or screws being passed through. the bar members; or the joint bolts 18 may be used for this purpose, as indicated in Fig. 9. The perforations not only provide the means of mounting the parts on the frame, but they provide for the proper incorporation of the splint into the plaster case or bandage. In applying the plaster bandage, which comes in rolls, the bandage is first wound around the body part; the splint is then applied, and other layers of plaster bandage then applied. The bandage is moistened before application, and the moistened plaster passes through the apertures 28 and binds the member 25 into the cast.

The manner in which any kind ofsplint may be set up will now be readily understood. Without further detailed description, it will be seen how the different forms of splints herein described may be assembled. Such a splint as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may be easily made in the exact form, shape, and

c size required, and the fabric 35 may then be put upon the splint as desired. The variations possible in this form of splint may be given as an instance of the adaptability of -my device. The upright part shown at the left inFig. 1 is the part which acts as a stirrup over the thigh, of the patient. It isobvious that this part may be made of the proper height and the proper width by the mere variation of the length of the parts 10. By varying the length of the longitudinal bars 10, the length ofthe device may be accommodated accurately to the'length of the patients leg, the joint 12 being made to 7 come opposite theknee joint at any desired angle by the proper fixing of the individual 7 lengths of bars 10 The width of the frame a long length of bar may be made up from two shorter lengths. For instance, a short length 10 may be used spliced onto lengths 10 by use of joints 13. Thus, if the physician lacks a single length long enough for any particular purpose, he may make up that length of two shorter ones.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I illustrate another form of splint wherein an elevated arch is. formed between the two body engaging portions 45, for the purpose of forming an open space between the bindings so that a fracture may be reached for purposes of dressing, etc. This arch may be formed of vertical bars 10 and horizontal bar 10 (or a pair of horizontal bars 10, connected by joint 13) angle joints 14 being used as indicated. It will be seen that this splint may be made in such manner as to space the parts 25 as close or as far as desired, and to make the arch of any length and height desired. 7

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a triangular splint whose frame workis made up of two bars 10 joined by an angle joint 14, and another bar 1O which may be secured to the bars 10 simply by bolts as shown at 36. Body engaging members 25 may be mounted on the frame. The one shown now mounted on the frame is conformed to fit the side of the patient beneath the arm while the other two members, which may be of the fiat board form 26, for the support of the flexed arm. It will be seen that such a splint as this may be made up in any size and shape, the various frame bars of any length, and the body engaging members of any size, etc.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I illustrate another form of arm splint whose frame is made up of two bars 10 joined by a pivotal joint 12. The pivotal joint may, in this, or any other case, have teeth 40 on its two parts 15 and 16 so as to more securely hold those parts in any set relation. At the outer end of one of the frame members 10, there is another pivotal joint 12 which carries a short bar 10 to which the hand of the patient may be bound for the purpose of holding the arm in any position of side fiexure, as is desiredin certain cases of breakage of the wrist or forearm bones. Arm engaging members 26 may be used, one for the upper arm and the other for the forearm. The arm may be held flexed at any angle, and the handalso held flexed at any angle. The frame members are made of suitable length to suit. the arm lengths of the patient and the members 26 are of suitable size and are. so placed upon the frame members as to fit the arm of the patient; On any of the forms herein described, where I'have illustrated the use of a fiat board form 26, it will be understood that the conformable metal sheet 25 may be used;-

and in such case the body engaging members are then of course adjustable as to conformation to the body.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I show the application of my invention to a more complicated type of device. Here there is a frame made up of a vertical bar 10 and horizontal bar 10 connected by an angle joint 14 and braced by anangular brace bar 10*. Vertical bar 10 carries the member 25 which engages the side of the body of the patient beneath the arm, as shown in Fig. 14; while bar 10 carries the member 25 in which the upper arm of the patient rests. Member 25 may be bound to the patients body in any suitable manner, and, when so bound, the whole device will be supported as shown in the position in Fig. 14. Near the outer endof horizontal bar 10 the horizontal cross member 26 is mounted. This may conveniently be a flat wooden piece, as hereinbefore described, for the purpose of supporting the patients forearm. The outer end of this wooden supporting member may be supported upon the brace bar 10 which may extend from the brace bar 10 All of these bars are seen to be adjustable in length and in relative disposition; so that each and every part may be suited to the size and conformation of the patients body. Furthermore, at the outer end of bar 10 an upright bar 10 may be placed upon an angle joint 14, carrying a pulley 41 at its upper end. The height of the bar 10 being variable, the vertical position of pulley 41 is of course variable. A cord 42 may be passed over this pulley attached to a strap 43 around the patients arm, and a weight 44 hung on the cord; for the purpose of putting an extension force upon the patients arm, for certain desired purposes.

It will now be seen how splints may be made up according to my invention in any one of a great variety of manners, and to suit any particular situation and any special purpose, the constructions are variable at all times as to size and conformation of the body. And with my devices a surgeon may readily make up any desired splint for any purpose. When once set up, the splints are entirely rigid against movement in any direction.

I have given the foregoing description to typify my invention and to indicate the forms which my invention may take. It is needless to say that the invention may be embodied in numberless forms of device; and I not only believe my invention to include such variations of device, but also such variations which suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. My claims are therefore directed to, the broad and fundamental aspects of my invention as well as to its specific aspects.

Having described preferred forms of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a splint embodying a frame work comprising longitudinal bars with longitudinally spaced perforations, joint members carrying bolts adapted to be passed through the bar perforations; and rigid conformable body engaging members adjustably mounted upon the bars, said body engaging members comprising perforated sheets of metal and being mounted upon the bars by means of bolts passing through the bar perforations.

2. In combination, a splint embodying a frame work comprising longitudinal bars with longitudinally spaced perforations, members adapted to form joints between said bars and provided with means to engage in the bar perforations; rigid conformable body engaging members comprising perforated metal sheets, and means passing through the bar perforations and through the sheet perforations to hold the body engaging members in place on the bar.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of October, 1917.

J. ROLLIN FRENCH, M. D.

Witness:

J AMES T. BARKELEW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). G. 

